andererseits

We are the first media organisation in Austria, where people with and without disabilities work together equitably. Thereby, we strive to add a missing piece to the journalistic landscape; The perspective of those it has so far excluded. Considering that 18,4% of Austrian citizens have a disability, it is imperative for our democratic discourse that their voices are represented in the media. The project serves as a concrete example of the impact of an inclusive approach; our contributers not only add to the public discoure, but also take an active role in further developing the project.

Despite the fact that 18.4% of Austrian citizens live with a disability, there are very few journalists with disabilities; as such, their perspective is missing in the media landscape. It is however, imperative for a functioning democracy, that their voices are represented in media and in broader social and political debate.

andererseits (On the other Hand) is the first media organisation in Austria, where people with and without disabilities work together equitably. Teams of contributors collaborate on stories on disability and society contained in the publication. The team therefore, not only add to public discourse, but also takes an active role in further developing the project.

The project-team consists of approximately 25 newsroom members, about half of which have a disability, who contribute to our investigations, organise events, graphic design and social media, and work on a freelance basis. The infrastructure is provided by a lead editor and two executive directors, who complete the team.

At its core, the project is about broadening the democratic discourse; readers with disabilities feel seen and heard, and those without disabilities gain a new perspective. andererseits drives the socio-political discourse and empowers people with disabilities to engage as equal actors and shapers.

People with disabilities are underrepresented globally. andererseits therefore develops best practices for inclusive journalism and collaboration, which can in turn be a driving force for social innovation in the media industry as a whole.

Photos © Stefan Fürthbauer